New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-01
TRIUMPH FOR BRITISH DIPLOMACY

4 TRIUMPH FOR BRITISH DIPLOMACY
Unfortunate Admiral Luce was right in as
suming that the State Department was at
TEMPTING to negotiate a treaty with Grea
britain. The announcement from London
that Mr. Chamberlain has been appointed
Chief Commissioner for Great Britain under
special convention for settling the fisheries
question is the first authoritative declaration
received here of the Administrati ms policy
1t is the policy TO which Secretary Bayard
fully committed the State Department before
he had been in Office month. On july l.
1885, the fisheries clauses Of the Treaty OF
Washington were to expire in consequence OF
the action of Congress and President Arthur's
proclamation. Secretary Bayard, acting upon
the suggestion of the British Minister, con
sented to an extension of the abrogated clauses
for six months with the understanding that
the President should recommend in his first
message the appointment of Joint
Commission charged with the settlement OF
the fisheries question. As the Administration
had no power under the Constitution to ex-
tend the time fixed by Congress for the ter
mination of a treaty, its fisheries policy opened
with an illegal and indefensible act. AT the
same time the British Minister was virtually
allowed to dictate the following passage in the
Presidents first message
recommend that the Congress provide for the APP
p)ntment Of a commission in which the Governments
OF the United States and Great Britain shall be re-
spectlvey represented, charged with the consd ration
and settlement upon just, equitable and honorable
basis of the entire question Of the fishing rights OF the
two Governments and their respective citizens on the
coasts of the United and British No tn America
The fishing interests being intimately related to other
general questions dependent urOn contiguy and In
tercOurse, consideration thereof In all their equities
might also properly come within the puryiew Of su"h
a commission and the fullest latitude on both sides
should be permitted
This recommendation came cheap to the
Canadians They had given American vessels
the privileges of their in shore fisheries for six
months without getting free market for their
own fish but in return they had succeeded
with the aid of the British Minis'cr in COM
hitting the new Administration 10 the policy
of negotiating new treaty in place of the
abrogated clauses. The recommendation was
unfavorablv acted upon by the Senate on Arri
-, 1856, Mr. Frye's adverse reso ution being
adopted by vote Of 80 to 10; but the Adj
minstration did not abandon its policy.
Retaliation Act passed in that year for the
protection of the fishing feet was followed by
another and more stringent measure last
March; but the Administration persisted in
ncglecting to use the powers with which it
had been armed Retaliation was too vigorous
policy for so timorous and limp an Admins
tration. II has wasted thirty months in weari-
some diplomatic correspondence, and has
finally returned to its starting point. 1t will
have a joint commission, come what may
Since the Senate was unwilling to sanction
the Presidents recommendation, it acts en-
tirey upon its own responsibility in concluding
special convention for the settlement Of the
fisheries question.
American fishermen will have good reason
for alarm in thi, consummation Of the British
Minister'S strategic diplomacy Of April 1885.
The Canadian authorities invariably succeed
in appointing more experienced men for service
on these commissions. The award OF s., 50O
600 was only one Of many instances in which
the British Government has outmneuvIed
the United States in temporary adjustments
of the fisheries question. Since the Treaty of
Independence, in which historic rights were
fully recognized, diplomacy has been a lottery
in which the Canadians have always drawn
Lnc pilIcS anu INC ICduS llc lulS
new triumph of British diplomacy seems
fraught with disaster TO American interests
which the Administration has sui enly
neglected TO protect.
The only ground for encouragement is the
fact that Lord Salisbury offered last APRIL TO
return to the Treaty of Washington without
pecuniary indemnity for the privileges Of the
inshorc fisheries. If protocols have been
signed for joint commission Secretary Bayard
must at least have taken advantage of this
proposal. The Halifax award, by assessing an
enormous sum for the use Of the inshorc fish
cries for limited period, virtually fixed
rate by which future claims cqua ~ eXtortion-
ate would be calculated If Lord Salisbury's
offer has been accepted as basis for the con-
vention the indemnity has been wiped out
altogether. This will be positive gain ; but
we apprehcnd that it wi be counterbalanced
by losses and sacrifices which will
imperil and cripple the fishing in
dustry The joint commission is what
the Canadians have been clamcrng
for ever since they lost fee market for
their fish. If they have carried their point
it is a triumph for British diplomacy, and that
bodies naught but evil 10 American interests